The Beer Nut: Brewing like it's the 1600s

A lot of big news is going on in the Massachusetts beer world lately - new brewery licenses, beer events and anniversary parties.

Newton’s Hopsters started last year as a brew-your-own beer-on-the-premises business, which allowed people to come in and brew a beer of the choice, and then come back a few weeks later and pick up the beer.

Now, Hopsters has joined the brewery ranks, receiving its commercial brewery license, the first in Newton since the 1600s.

The license will now allow Hopsters to sell draft beer it brews at its 292 Centre St. location, and also sell to restaurants, bars and liquor stores.

"Since we opened Hopsters' doors, it has thrived as a unique destination for the community to educate themselves on craft beer in an enjoyable and relaxed environment," owner Lee Cooper said in a press release. "The new brewing license further enhances our customer experience, allowing us to now sample and serve an array of Hopsters' innovative, experimental batches of custom craft brewed on site, which is what Hopsters is all about."

Growlers will be available for $4 at Hopsters, and they will have at least three specialty beers on tap at all times. The selection is expected to rotate weekly.

On July 11, Hopsters will host a party to celebrate its new license at 7 p.m. During the event, they’ll be offering a cask-conditioned English pale ale on tap for $1 a pint.

Also on July 11, Independent Fermentations, a new brewery coming to Plymouth, will partner with the Cape Cod Central Railroad to host the Local Brew and Chew Choo.

The event will feature a train ride leaving the Buzzards Bay station at 5:30 p.m., returning at 8:30 p.m. During that time, participants will have a chance to try beers from seven different breweries - Independent Fermentations, Mayflower Brewing Company, Cape Cod Beer, Berkley Beer, Bog Iron Brewing, Abandoned Building Brewery and Goodfellows Brewing - as well as spirits from Dirty Water Distillery.

Each 5-ounce serving of beer will be paired with an appetizer created specifically for the event by the railroad’s chef.

Tickets are $64 each and are available at www.capetrain.com or by calling 888-797-7245.

Jack's Abby Brewing of Framingham will be celebrating its third anniversary with a party at the Rail Trail Flatbread Company, 33 Main St., Hudson, on July 24.

The event will start at 7 p.m. and will feature 20 different Jack's Abby beers on tap.

If you can't wait, Jack's Abby will be hosting a Framingham Night July 11 at the Tavern, 102 Irving St., Framingham. At 7 p.m., there will be five different beers named after Framingham on tap: Framingham Lager, Barrel-aged Vanilla Framinghammer, Barrel-aged Coffee Framinghammer, Peanut Butter & Jelly Framinghammer and Cocoa-Nut Framinghammer.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated the Framingham Downtown Renaissance.

Page 2 of 2 - And finally, recently got word when everyone will be able to try Medusa Brewing Company's beers for the first time. The new Hudson brewery plans on debuting its beers at the Spirit of Hudson on Aug. 16.

Email Norman Miller at nmiller@wickedlocal.com or call 508-626-3823. Check out the Beer Nut blog at blogs.wickedlocal.com/beernut. Follow him on Twitter at @realbeernut. Also check out "Norman Miller, The Beer Nut" on Facebook.